Afternoon Update: College leaders offer a plan to "not be sued all the time" over sports

AI and the death of student writing; Wisconsin-Oshkosh exhausts cash reserves; three other campuses struggle; two student papers win awards; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. OUTSIDE THE POWER CONFERENCES [These College Leaders Have a Plan to ‘Not Be Sued All the Time’ Over Sports]( By Nell Gluckman [STORY IMAGE]( Most of Division I lacks the money to weather possible consequences of nonstop litigation. One group is proposing de-emphasis as a solution. ADVERTISEMENT [These College Leaders Have a Plan to ‘Not Be Sued All the Time’ Over Sports]( THE REVIEW | ESSAY [AI and the Death of Student Writing]( By Lisa Lieberman [STORY IMAGE]( The move away from true hands-on scholarship feels tragic. FINANCIAL TROUBLE [Fewer U. of Wisconsin Campuses Project Deficits, but One Has Exhausted Its Reserves]( Just 11 years after Wisconsin lawmakers [assailed the university system]( for its cash reserves, UW’s regents were told this week that the Oshkosh campus had depleted its savings. That will require the system, for the first time, to lend from its own reserves. The news followed a year of layoffs and branch-campus closures, and six of 13 campuses still face deficits. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Chronicle) GOVERNANCE [Concordia U. Regents Decide Ann Arbor Campus Will Not Be Independently Operated]( The university’s Michigan campus has lost millions every year since it merged with the Wisconsin campus, in 2013, Concordia says, prompting fears in Ann Arbor that the university system would [shut it down and sell off]( its valuable real estate. The regents said the Ann Arbor campus would stay open but lacked the resources to operate as a free-standing college. (WEMU, The Chronicle) LEADERSHIP [President Leaves One Year Into Tenure Amid Fiscal Woes at Community College in N.Y.]( The State University of New York’s Rockland Community College has parted ways with its president, Lester Edgardo Sandres Rápalo, officials said on Thursday. Rápalo had drawn criticism for faculty cuts and furloughs, among other changes to deal with a $4-million deficit. (The Journal News) COLLEGE IN TROUBLE [Financially Struggling Clarks Summit U. Temporarily Furloughs All Employees]( The Pennsylvania university, formerly Baptist Bible College, took the step to help close a budget gap, it said on Wednesday, and is not closing. The furloughs cover the president and other top officials, who will work without pay. (The Times-Tribune) HONORS [Student Newspapers at Elon U. and Indiana U. Win 2023 Corbin Gwaltney Awards]( The awards, named for The Chronicle’s co-founder and chosen by the Society of Professional Journalists, recognize the best student newspapers for work published last year. The winners, The Pendulum in the small-campus category and The Indiana Daily Student in the large-campus category, each get a $5,000 prize. (Chronicle news release) UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Library and Institutional Success Program | July 2024] The Chronicle is partnering with Ithaka S+R to host a brand new [professional development program for librarians]( in July. This innovative two-week program will help library leaders understand the many roles they might take on, boost the success of the campus library, and better align with their institution’s goals. Learn more about our seminars and workshops, and [register today]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. 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